Technical Assistance

SolarOPs offers technical assistance and facilitated peer support to help cities and counties remove barriers in local markets and increase installed solar capacity. Whether you’re looking for assistance identifying resources, best practices or jurisdictions implementing similar initiatives, SolarOPs can help.

Ask an Expert

The quickest way to tap the expertise of the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership is through its “Ask an Expert” service, where our team of solar experts answers questions from local government staff and their stakeholders. Browse existing questions or submit a new one and the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership Team will do their best to respond as soon as possible. Submit your question.

.

Host a Solar Powering Your Community Workshop

The SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership (SolarOPs) is delivering free custom regional workshops to communities across the nation. The workshops are designed to provide actionable information on overcoming local-level barriers to solar, addressing soft costs, and implementing a successful local solar program in areas including:

Want to connect with a small group of municipal peers from other communities that are planning for solar as well those that have found creative approaches to getting solar installed? Members of the Solar Outreach Partnership facilitate these local government connections through regular conference calls and in-person exchanges. To access these services, email solar@icma.org.

.

Individual Consultations

If your community has identified a specific need or barrier and is looking for guidance, SolarOPs may be able to provide assistance. This assistance may take the form of program or policy analysis, research support, a technical review of an RFP, market analysis, or assistance in designing a new solar incentive program. To learn more, email your request to solar-usa@iclei.org or complete and submit our TA Application.

.

Are You a State Government?

Assistance is also available through the SunShot initiative to state policymakers and their staff on policy related issues for solar technology deployment. Assistance such as policy evaluation and potential impact analysis can be completed by SunShot’s network of technical assistance providers. To access the program, please email your request to stat@nrel.gov.

Upcoming Events

Communities interested in learning more about solar development in the Jackson, MS region are invited to a free workshop with national and local experts hosted by the City of Jackson. This interactive workshop will provide actionable information on creating a local-level solar program, with a focus on:

ICLEI Local Government For Sustainability USA presents an hour-long free webinar session on closing the solar income gap through greater access, proven policies, and community engagement. This webinar is brought to you as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership. Save the date for August 12, 2pm – 3pm ET.
Register Now >> [bit.ly/1MbkAaq] Join the conversation by tweeting your questions and comments using #EqualSolarAccess.

Communities interested in learning more about solar development in the Triangle area are invited to a free workshop with national and local experts hosted by the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center. This interactive workshop will provide actionable information on creating a local-level solar program, with a focus on:

The benefits and barriers of solar development;

Planning for solar: getting solar ready;

Understanding the regulatory landscape of solar; and

Innovative financing options for solar projects.

Lunch & 4 AICP CM Credits Provided for Registered Participants

Parking: The workshop is located in Module 6. The main entrance is located in the back of the building. Parking instructions will be sent to all registrants prior to the workshop.

Communities interested in learning more about solar development in the Henderson, NC region are invited to a free workshop with national and local experts hosted by Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments. This interactive workshop will provide actionable information on creating a local-level solar program, with a focus on: